Summer evenings in Konoha were the most pleasant for a veteran shinobi and former clan head of Hyuga, Hyuga Hiashi taking a casual stroll around the village. 'The development of the village is mind-blowing' though honestly surprised Hiashi. But also missed the old Konoha, who was more inclined to traditional architecture. The sense of this wave of nostalgia took him to Senju Park. Entering the park, he was greeted by the gatekeepers" Good evening, Hiashi Sama. It has been so long since you came by" he replied" Yeah, it's just old age is catching up too soon that I can't move that way I want" with a sheepish smile. Many who didn't know the past, had an image of him as a kind yet stern old man who adored his grandchildren. But many shinobis who worked with him knew what it took for him to this transition. Life is good is what think now. A world where war is just part of old stories and folktales, where you don't have fear of losing a family, a friend a comrade. A world you are not forced to do anything against your will.
He was happy the way how he gets to see his daughters back home safe and sound. Now his train of thought was broken by family walking away from the bench he sat on. A small family. A father and two daughters. The elder one look like she is ten and younger one look like she is five. They remained of his own daughters, even though they have grown up, one even has her own family and head of the clan and the other one a successful shinobi with her own set of students. His pride slow turned to guilt. He being an incompetent father. He always wondered how other fathers was there for their daughters when they need.
He began remembering the days when he pushed hinata away just because she didn't want to hurt her own people, calling her weak, good for nothing. He took a lot of time to understand the strength that bloomed as the time passed by. He still remember treating noni more of a sparing doll for his daughter and not a boy who was orphaned. Causing a drift between the sisters and cousin. He also remember how close the sisters where. For the sake of clan, he ignored the fact they were siblings and made them fight for the leadership despite their silent protest. How this created a drift between the siblings.
After Naruto's involvement, both directly and indirectly, he began to cherish and understand the values of family. The duty toward the clan's repeated tragedies made his heart scared stone resulting in partial breakage of the family. When he started to realize and accept the fact that Neji and Hinata were capable of leading the clan, nejis tragic death during war, along with others started to change him. He remembers the time when his younger daughter was kidnapped by Tenori he began to understand how it feels like to lose a child. But thankfully naruto who is his son-in-law now saved both his daughter from the ostusuki.
He didn't realize it was late now, so he began heading toward the Hyuga compound. The lights in the drawing room were. His lips automatically curled up. This indicates his grandchildren along with their entire family are here. He couldn't contain his childish excitement and walked into the house with that grin that he had won back from years of struggle. Before knocking on the door, looks up to the sky with a bitter sweetness thought of his brother, nephew, and wife who had left the world without knowing what peace was.
Before he knocks on the door" Oto-sama, welcome home" Hinata by the door. "I'm home" warmest possible way. This brought a smile to Hinata's face that Hiashi began to see after she tied the knot to Naruto. He heard a buzzing noise from the room "Boruto, DON'T TAKE THAT WOODED KATANA" yelled Naruto and again he heard a noise that was very unusual until the Uzumaki visited them, a precious vase that he collected as a hobby broken by ten-year uzumaki Boruto and panicking uzumaki patriarchy. The laughter of the boy died down and began to cry" I am swaarry to-san" The elder Hyuga felt how ironic it is to see this, elite prankster punishing a noob prankster for a prank. He silently cackled at the scene along with his daughter "I have to get in the scene now" and walked toward her husband soon to give 'lessons to be disciplined' this entire play made him realize one thing, he had made a lot of decision that still have a gravitational pull on hi, but decisions to let naruto join his small family and seeing his daughter happy with her kids gave him now a purpose to live happily and drown himself in his guilt.
"I am home" Hanabi screamed from the door holding a bag of groceries. He saw his granddaughter run toward her aunt and hug her around the legs. "Hello oto-sama" with a quick bow and races toward the kitchen with Himawari as a tail.
Now he barges in to see the situation about Naruto and Bourto and the vase. The lecture went on to a point where Hiashi had to interfere "I am the owner of the vase, both of them are forgiven" to Naruto and Boruto and Boruto launched toward his Oji-san and shouted" Thank you, grandpa, for saving me from ka-san wrath" and clings around his neck. "Oto-sama, please don't spoil him than already than he is" Hinata from the background. He ignores and gives Boruto a handful of his favorite candy" You are the best, oji-chan" and runs to find Hanabi and Himawari. In this gap, he saw Hinata whispering something to Naruto and saw his face from a goofy one to a gloomy one. He read the situation" So he is on the couch today then". The rest of the evening was a blur and he invited Naruto for tea. The men had gone to different parts of the compound.
It was late in the evening when the sisters finished their chores, put both the children to bed and were sitting in their small garden, admiring the beauty of the moon. "Do you remember how we used to play ninja when we were kids?" Hanabi sprigged the question not looking at her sister. Hinata was grateful to finally be able to spend time with her sister. " yeah, you always wanted to be the lead ninja" chuckling at her sister and remembering the time when both made time for each to just see each other before falling asleep." I was only five, and I had a childish fantasy" Hanabi backed her childish behavior." Remember when we snuck into the kitchen for some dessert after my training?" hinata spoke." Hanabi responded" We bathed ourselves in the flour, right? I got an ear full from my father and got detention from Natsu san. Wonder where she is now?" Natsu played an important role in Hanabi's life growing up. She thought all etiquette required for a child of the head family. Hinata replied "She moved to a nearby city with her family" They spoke about random childhood time, and they knew where it was heading "It was difficult right, growing up?" hinata asked her with a heavy voice. This was talked about on many occasions, but the topic remains sensitive for the Hyuga sisters. "Not going to lie on your face nee-sama, it was difficult. Growing up was not easy with those clan elders around" she sighed and continued "After you lost with me, there was this burden I was caring, about that I didn't realize it was heavy. Growing up I wanted to be like you, but after that battle, something had gotten into me. That victory made a narrow-minded girl, who believed just destiny cannot be changed. This sowed the seed of arrogance in me. I invested all my time in training and mastering the techniques and tried to tell myself I was born to lead the clan. I think all was just to cover up that lonely patch and frustration I felt growing up. Then something changed" She paused looking at her sister "After all the showdown between Neji ni-san and Nanadaime, my perception changed towards life. I admired your strength. How to pave your path. But the pain attack, the war made me realize, how important this family was to mean now we are here, well and alive speaking about the silliest and most unimportant thing as if nothing happened. Ne-sama I am happy now". Hinata lost words. This confession was swelled her heart with warmth, all she could tell "happy to know that are you are happy" and hugging her tight. This was a special moment for the sisters. Now as adults, they can understand each other's problems.
During this moment, the masters of byakugan didn't realize a person saw this exchange. Hiashis feels complete now. He grew up in a strict environment with his twin brother, burdened by the clans, creating boundaries between them. This scene to him was precious as this is what wanted, for, his children. Now a way of guilt hits him like a wave. For separating them for a long time. Now he heard something that made him laugh "At least give me credit for the proposal on the moon from Nanadaime" with a naughty smirk on her face. This reviled his presence to the sisters.
"Oto-sama, where is Naruto-kun" hinata asked him. "He went to take a nap, but for some reason, he was sleeping on the couch in the kid's room, I was wondering why?" with an amused smile. Both their remarks left Hinata embarrassed. They were sitting in comfortable silence for a while looking into space. Hiashi "Hinata, did you resent me growing up?" This surprised Hinata and Hanabi. "Maybe, but knowing the reason, made me rational my feeling. And my love for the family was stronger than the resentment itself" Hinata told Hiashi this was a surprise to him. Despite not treating her well, it took a near-death battle between his nephew and his daughter for him to realize how important she was to him. "What about you hanabi?" "I didn't understand what was going on growing up, I was caught up with the idea that Neji ni-san had, 'destiny can't be changed'. I lived with that delusion for a long to an extent forgetting what I wanted and not being grateful. But the war changed my perception altogether. Understood the importance of comrades, friends and family. But one thing I can tell you is I looked up to you and ne-sama all the time. This warmed his heart. Despite all he put his daughter through, they accept him as their father. After all the hardship which could have been avoided for them, but chose to put through. All the harsh words he through at them. Everything. He is overwhelmed with guilt.
He gets up from his seat walks towards the middle tatami mat in the room, kneels with is head on the ground and says "my deep apologies to both of you. Put you through all this know both were hurt. Not realizing I was pushed you both away. And my gratitude for not abandoning this old man for his sins". He could see the sister's reaction, he was processing the enter situation. He was known to have an unhealthy amount of pride in him to even apologise in the past. He felt how ironic this situation was. But for some Areason, he feels at peace. Like he removed a big burden from his chest.
Hinata was surprised by this sudden change in the atmosphere, the sudden apology everything is overwhelmed her. First time in years she again feels this feeling of being overwhelmed since 16. "Oto-sama, please lift your head. Please do not apologise, I thought we were over it, right Hanabi?" she side-eyeing her sister who had zoned out from the apology "Oh yes yes even I thought it was solved our way out" but he didn't miss that his children shed a few tears and trying to hide it ' cheeky brats'. "And I am leaving now, I have to sleep so I can play with my grandchildren tomorrow" and gets up and walks off. "Not bird should know about this, all right?" he threatens "Yes to-san" the nanadaime with a gentle smile. This heat-warming play which watched filled his soul. 'so, this is how families work' shoving his hand to the side pockets of his pyjamas and walking to the sofa Hinata assigned him with. He groaned" When am I going to sleep with you hinata!"